The alleged killer of mother-to-be Nikitta Grender is likely to stand trial at the start of October, a judge has said.

Carl Whant, 26, of Bettws, Newport, South Wales, was charged with the murder of the heavily pregnant 19-year-old on Saturday.

The former soldier, who worked as a nightclub bouncer, is also charged with a separate offence of child destruction.

He appeared before High Court judge Mr Justice Griffith Williams at Cardiff Crown Court in a preliminary hearing.

Prosecutor David Wooler said: "He was charged on Saturday 12th February with the murder of Nikitta Grender on February 5th, and an offence of child destruction in relation to a child she was carrying on the occasion."

He is the second cousin of the victim's boyfriend, Ryan Mayes, 18, the father of the unborn baby girl, who had already been named Kelsey-May.

Miss Grender was found stabbed to death in the bedroom of her burnt-out flat in Broadmead Park, Liswerry, Newport.